The race to replace Bill Frist begins next year. At the present time, the field of candidates is decidedly lacking in stature...

Van Hilleary has an interesting sounding name. He is a standard issue southern Republican, whose "vision" includes nothing more than "smaller government" and conservative social stances. He has no big issues to attract interest from a broad spectrum voters and constituents. He has not attempted to appeal to moderates. His voting record and position statements are just terrible:

{some items omitted}

• Voted YES on banning human cloning, including medical research. (Jul 2001)
  
• Voted YES on Constitutional amendment prohibiting Flag Desecration. (Jul 2001)
  
• Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
  
• Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit burning the US flag. (Jun 1999)
  
• Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
  
• Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
  
• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
  
• Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
  
• Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
  
• Let schools display the words "God Bless America". (Oct 2001)
  
• Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997)
  
• Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
  
• Van Hilleary on Environment: No stance on record.
  
• Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
  
• Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
  
• Limit punitive damages;[...] (Sep 1994)
  
• Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
  
• Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
  
• Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax. (Apr 2001)
  
• Limit welfare to 2 years & cut welfare spending. (Sep 1994)
  

"When it comes to the environment, the congressman hasn't found a common-sense health and safety protection that he likes."

Ed Bryant, Bob Corker, and Harold Ford are also not Al Gore, but I'm out of time this morning, so I will explain why in future editions.